Adjustable stop for rotary selector switches



Sept. 13, 1966 H. H. BECK 3,272,031

ADJUSTABLE STOP FOR ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCHES Filed April 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 1 FIG. I

/ 466 FIG. 3

//Vl ENTOR HERBERT BECK Er W AGENT Sept. 13, 1966 BECK 3,272,031

ADJUSTABLE STOP FOR ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCHES Filed April 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIC15 FIG. 6

IA/I/ENTOR HERBERT H. BECK By f m AGENT United States Patent 3,272,031 ADJUSTABLE STOP FOR ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCHES Herbert H. Beck, Whippany, N.J., assignor to McGraw- Edison Company, Elgin, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 451,739 9 Claims. ((174-526) This invention relates to rotary selector switches and more particularly to a novel form of adjustable stops for such switches.

It is an object to provide an adjustable stop for a rotary selector switch, which can be easily reset while the switch is in mounted position.

Another object is to provide such improved adjustable stop which can be mounted on either the front or rear end panel of the switch.

Another object is to provide an adjustable stop for a rotary selector switch which can be reset easily without the use of tools.

Another object is to provide an adjustable stop for a rotary selector switch, which requires very little additional space.

Another'object is to provide a rotary selector switch having a fully contained adjustable stop permitting the switch to be installed on a mounting panel withoutany special alteration of the panel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary selector switch having a double adjustable stop according to the aforestated features and objectives of the invention, which permit the working sector of the switch to be easily selected.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In the description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGURE-1 is principally an axially sectional view of a rotary selector switch according to one embodiment of the invention, taken on the line 1-1 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a front sectional view of this switch taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 33 and 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is principally an axially sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a rear end view of this switch taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

The rotary selector switch shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 is of a cylindrical construction comprising a plurality of subassemblies which fit together into an interlocking relationship and are held together by a cylindrical metal case 11 generally in the same manner as is specifically described in the pending application Serial No. 416,687 of Chester F. Scott filed December 8, 1964. The switch comprises a circular front panel member 12 having a central bearing 13 receiving a rotary shaft 14. The bearing has a threaded tubular extension 15 provided with a mounting slot 16 and on which is threaded a nut 17 for enabling the attenuator to be secured to a mounting panel (not shown) as against a shoulder 18 formed by a hub 19 of increased diameter at the base of the tubular extension 15. The inner end portion of the shaft 14 is provided with diametrically opposite flats 20. Splined to this inner end portion of the shaft is a rotor wiper assembly 21. Staked to the shaft 14 at the inner side of the front panel 12 is a metal disk 22 which is backed at its outer side by a thin circular disk 23 of spring material. The spring disk 23 is provided with an arcuate slot 24 throughout a major portion of its arcuate length so that 3,2723%. Patented Sept. 13, 1966 the arcuate portion 23a subtended by the slot 24 can be flexed readily outwardly. The rotor assembly is held in the front panel member with the disk 22 hearing against the inner end of the bearing 13 by means of a retainer ring 25 engaging a groove in the shaft just beyond the outer end of the tubular extension 15. Secured to the inner face of the front panel member 12 is an ar-cuate detent member 26 provided with a series of peripheral notches 27 as is shown in FIGURE 4. Mounted in a hole 28 in the disk 22 between the spring 23a and the notched portion of the detent member 26 is a spherical ball 29. This ball engages the notches 27 in the detent member 26 under the spring pressure to index the rotor shaft at equal intervals. A stop lug 30 is formed on the inner side of the front panel member 12 just beyond the disk 22 and on the disk is a radially extending tongue 31 which limits the rotary movement of the rotor shaft in one direction by abutment against the lug 30. The apparatus herein so far described constitutes a shaft sub-assembly of the rotary selector switch.

The wiper sub-assembly 21 comprises a rotor disk 32 provided with a cylindrical hub 33 extending from the back side thereof as viewed from the front of the switch. The hub has a central hole 34 of a non-circular form to fit slidably onto the flattened end portion of the rotor 14. Secured by two rivets 35 against the back side of the rotor disk 32 is a somewhat U-shaped spring wiper 36 having one spring arm 36a extending angularly away from the disk in a position to engage a collector ring 37 just beyond the hub 33 and having another spring arm 36b extending angularly away from the disk in a position to engage a series of contacts 38 in a circular arrangement concentric with the collector ring 37.

The collector ring 37 and contacts 38 are part of a printed circuit board forming a disk-shaped contact panel 39 having a central hole 40 forming an external bearing for the hub 33 of the wiper assembly 21. The collector ring 37 and contacts 38 are inset in the printed board with the collector ring having a radially extending contact lug 37a interposed between two adjacent contacts 38 as shown in FIGURE 3. The contact lug 37a and each of the contacts 38 have holes 41 drilled therethrough to receive terminal wires 42 of a cable 43 leading out through the back panel 44 of the switch. After each terminal wire is threaded through a hole in the contact panel it is soldered to the respective contact member. The rotor assembly 21 is retained on the shaft 14 in pressure engagement with the contact panel 39 by a retainer ring 45 in the hub 33.

The contact panel 39 and the front end panel 12 are held in a spaced aligned relationship by an intervening tubular casing 46 of insulating material. The forward end of this casing 46 may have an interlocking engagement with the front panel member 12 provided by four rectangular tongues 46a on the casing which engage respective peripheral notches 12a in the panel member 12 open to the back side thereof. Similarly, the rear end of the casing 46 has an interlocking engagement with the contact panel 39 by means of two diametrically opposite rectangular tongues 46b on the casing which engage respective rectangular peripheral notches 39a in the contact panel. The printed contact panel 39 and the rear end panel 44 are held in a spaced aligned relationship =by an intervening tubular casing 47 of insulating material. The forward end of this casing has an interlocking engagement with the printed contact panel 39 by means of two diametrically opposite rectangular tongues 47a which engage respective rectangular peripheral notches 39b in the contact panel. Similarly, the rear end of the casing 47 has a suitable interlocking engagement with the rear end panel 44. Telescoped onto this entire assembly from the rear end of the switch is the cylindrical metal case 11. When the case is telescoped fully onto the assembly the inwardly flanged portion 110 abuts against the rear end panel 44 and the forward edge 11b of the case extends slightly beyond a beveled edge on the front end panel 12, which extending edge is then peened over to lock the case onto the front end panel and form a unitary switch construction.

The adjustable stop in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES l to 4 is mounted on the front end panel 12. This stop comprises a leaf spring 48 rotatably mounted on the hub 19 against a shoulder 12a on the end plate which spaces the spring from the plate. The leaf spring is retained frictionally on the hub by a bowed retaining ring 49. The leaf spring includes a radial arm 48a extending from its hub portion and terminating near the outer border of the front end panel 12. In this outer border portion of the front end panel there are holes 50 for the respective contact positions of the switch which are equally spaced circumferentially about the shaft 14. Insertable selectively into these holes is a stud pin 51 provided preferably with a seating flange 51a near its outer end. When seated in a hole from the front of the switch the inner end of the stud projects beyond the back face of the front end panel 12 into the path of movement of the lug 31 on the disk 22 to serve as a stop by the abutment of the lug against the pin. The stud pin is retained in whichever hole it is placed by moving the leaf spring 48 thereonto. Preferably, the leaf spring and stud pin are movable into interlocking engagement by providing the leaf spring with a notch 48b which is engageable with the outer end portion 51b of the stud pin by flexing the spring arm 48a forwardly, moving the arm then into registration with the stud pin and then releasing the arm to move onto the flange 51a. Alternatively, the spring arm 4811 may be extended to overlie the entire flange 51a and the spring may have a hole to receive the outer end portion 51b of the stud pin. Since the spring arm 48a is spaced from the front end panel 12 by reason of the hub 12a the spring can be readily picked up and deflected forwardly so that it can be moved onto engagement with the stud pin.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES S and 6 the front end panel 52 and the rear end panel 53 are made square and are joined by a pair of spacing rods 54 and S at each corner secured thereto by screws 56 with the spacing rods 54 and 55 being suitably joined through the contact panel 39 to hold the panel securely in place. A shaft 57 extends the full length of the switch through the front panel 52 and rear panel 53. The rotor wiper assembly 21 is secured to the shaft by a pin 58. Otherwise, the construction of the switch per se may be essentially the same as that described in FIGURES 1 to 4.

Fitted into the rear end plate 53 is a bearing 59 onto the outer end portion of which is rotatably mounted two leaf springs 60 and 61. These springs are held frictionally on the bearing by a washer 62 backed by a flange 63 on the bearing formed by peening over an edge of the bearing after the springs and washer are mounted thereon. The leaf spring 60 and 61 simulate the spring 48 in the first embodiment. The spring 60 lies flat against the outer face of the end plate but can be picked up readily to be deflected outwardly and to be rotated about the bearing by reason of a circular groove 64 in the end plate midway between the bearing and the outer end portion of the spring. At the outer end of the spring in circular arrangement around the bearing there is a series of counterbored holes 65 at a spacing about the shaft equal to the spacing between successive switch positions. There is a complete set of these holes extending entirely around the shaft since in this embodiment there is no fixed stop for the rotor. Insertable selectively into any two of these counterbored holes 65 are two stud pins 66 and 67. These stud pins have flat heads which seat into the respective counterbores so that the heads are substantially flush with the outer face of the rear end panel. When so seated, the inner ends of the pins extend substantially beyond the inner face of the end panel as shown in FIGURE 5. By way of example, these stud pins may have outer extensions 66a and 67a of reduced diameter which are engageable by apertured end portions 60a and 61a of the respective leaf springs 60 and 61 so that the leaf springs will be detented when in engagement with the respective stud pins. Secured to the shaft 57 at the inner side of the rear end panel 53 is an arm 68 staked to a hub 69 which is pinned at 7% to the shaft. The arm 68 sweeps past the holes 65 as the shaft 57 is turned and will abut against the inner end portions of the stud pins 66 to form stops for the rotor shaft. By selectively setting the stud pins in the respective counterbored holes 65 the rotor movement can be limited to any desired angular range or working sector of the switch. The advantage of placing the adjustable stop assembly at the rear end of the switch is that it permits the stop adjustments to be made readily without having to remove the switch from its mounting panel.

The embodiments of my invention herein particularly shown and described are intended to be illustrative and not necessarily lirnitative of my invention since the same are subject to changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention, which I endeavor to express according to the following claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary selector switch having an end panel, a rotor and a shaft for said rotor journaled in said end panel, a leaf spring pivoted on said end panel about said shaft as a .center, means frictionally gripping the hub portion of said spring, a series of circumferentially spaced holes in said end panel about said shaft as a center, said holes being spaced by the angular distance about said shaft between successive switch positions, a stud end removably mounted in a selected one of said holes and in seating relation with said end panel, said stud pin having an inner end portion projecting beyond said panel when the stud pin is in a seated position, said leaf spring being shiftable to bring an outer end portion in engagement with said stud pin to hold the stud pin seated in a selected hole, and an arm secured to said shaft having an outer end portion movable int-o abutment with the inner end portion of said stud pin as the shaft is turned whereby to provide a selected end stop for said rotor.

2. The rotary selector switch set forth in claim 1 wherein said leaf spring and stud pin have means cooperable in an interlocking engagement.

3. The rotary selector switch set forth in claim 1 wherein said stud pin has a flange for seating on said end panel and has a reduced diameter outer end portion extending beyond said flange, and wherein said spring has an outer end portion inter-lockingly engageable with said outer end portion when said leaf spring is released from an outwardly deflected position while in a position in registration with said stud pin.

4. The rotary selector switch set forth in claim 3 wherein said spring is held fiat against said end panel, and said end panel is provided with a circular groove about said shaft, said groove being adapted to permit a prying element to be inserted underneath said leaf spring to flex it outwardly from the end panel whereby to enable the spring to be engaged with and disengaged from said stud pin.

5. A rotary selector switch having front and rear end panels, means joining said end panels into a rigid structure, a switch rotor having a shaft journaled in bothof said end panels, a leaf spring rotatably mounted on said rear end panel at the outer side thereof for shifting movement about said shaft as a center, a set of holes in said rear end panel spaced about said shaft at angular distances corresponding to the distances between successive switch positions, a stud pin removably mounted in a selected one of said holes from the rear end of said rear end panel, said stud pin having both inner and outer end portions extending beyond respective inner and outer faces of said rear end panel, said spring being shiftable onto said stud pin in interlocking engagement therewith whereby the spring holds the pin seated in a respective one of said holes and said pin holds said spring from turning about said shaft, and a member secured to said shaft at the inner side of said rear end panel and having an arm movable past said holes as said shaft is turned whereby to provide a stop for an adjustable stop for said rotor by the abutment of said arm against the inner end portion of said stud pin.

6. A rotary selector switch including an end panel, a rotor shaft journaled in said end panel, a pair of leaf springs rotatably mounted coaxially with said shaft on said end panel, a set of holes in said end panel circumferentially spaced about said shaft at angular distances corresponding to the distances between successive switch positions, a pair of stud pins removably mounted in selected ones of said holes in seating relation with said end panel, said stud pins having both inner and outer end portions extending beyond the inner and outer faces of said end panel, said springs being shiftable respectively onto said stud pins to hold the pins seated in the respective ones of said holes, and an arm secured to said shaft at the inner side of said end panel having a portion movable along said circumferent-ially spaced holes to limit the operating range of said switch to a selected working sector by the abutment of said arms against the inner end portions of said stud pins.

7. An adjustable stop means for a rotary selector switch having an end panel provided with a bearing and a switch rotor having a shaft journaled in said bearing, said bearing having a tubular extension at the outer side of said end panel, said means comprising at least one leaf spring having a hub portion pivoted on said tubular extension, means on said tubular extension for frictionally gripping said hub portion and holding the leaf spring fiat with said end panel while allowing the leaf spring to be pivotally adjusted about said tubular extension, a series of circumferentially spaced holes in said end panel about said tubular extension as a center at least one, stud pin removably mounted in a selected one of said holes, said stud pin having a flange near its outer end for seating against said end panel, said leaf spring having a notched outer end portion for interlocking engagement with the outer end portion of said stud pin when the spring is shifted to bear against said flange to hold the stud pin seated against said end panel, and means secured to said shaft at the inner side of said end panel for abutment against the inner end portion of said stud pin to provide a selected stop for said shaft.

8. The adjustable stop set forth in claim 7 comprising two of said leaf springs frictionally pivotally mounted on said tubular extension in superimposed relation to each other, and two of said stud pins removably mounted in respective ones of said holes spaced by a plurality of hole intervals from each other, said leaf springs being engageable with said respective stud pins to hold the stud pins seated in said end panel whereby the inner end portions of said stud pins define both start and end positions in the movement range of said rotor shaft to limit the switch to a selected working range.

9. The adjustable stop set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said holes is counterbored at the outer side of the end panel to receive the flanged portion of said stud pin to a depth substantially flush with the outer face of the end panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCH HAVING AN END PANEL, A ROTOR AND A SHAFT FOR SAID ROTOR JOURNALED IN SAID END PANEL, A LEAF SPRING PIVOTED ON SAID PANEL ABOUT SAID SHAFT AS A CENTER, MEANS FRICTIONALLY GRIPPING THE HUB PORTION OF SAID SPRING, A SERIES OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED HOLES IN SAID END PANEL ABOUT SAID SHAFT AS A CENTER, SAID HOLE BEING SPACED BY THE ANGULAR DISTANCE ABOUT SAID SHAFT BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE SWITCH POSITIONS, A STUD END REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN A SELECTED ONE OF SAID HOLES AND IN SEATING RELTION WITH SAID END PANEL, SAID STUD PIN HAVING AN INNER END PORTION PROJECTING BEYOND SAID PANEL WHEN THE STUD PIN IS IN A SEATED POSITION, SAID LEAF SPRING BEING SHIFTABLE TO BRING AN OUTER END PORTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STUD PIN TO HOLD THE STUD PIN SEATED IN A SELECTED HOLE, AND AN ARM SECURED TO SAID SHAFT HAVING AN OUTER END PORTION MOVABLE 